陳杞世家

Duke Hu of Chen, Man, was a descendant of the Emperor Shun of Yu. In ancient times, when Shun was still a commoner, Yao gave him his two daughters in marriage, and he lived at the bend of the Gui River. His descendants therefore took Gui as their surname. After Shun died and passed All-Under-Heaven to Yu, Shun's son Shangjun was enfeoffed with a territory. Through the Xia dynasty, this line was sometimes lost and sometimes continued. When King Wu of Zhou conquered Yin Zhou, he sought out Shun's descendants and found Gui Man. He enfeoffed him at Chen to maintain the sacrifices of Emperor Shun — this was Duke Hu.

When Duke Hu died, his son Duke Shen Xihou succeeded. When Duke Shen died, his brother Duke Xiang Gaoyang succeeded. When Duke Xiang died, Shen's son Tu was established — this was Duke Xiao. When Duke Xiao died, his son Duke Shen Yurong succeeded. Duke Shen's time coincided with King Li of Zhou. When Duke Shen died, his son Duke You Ning succeeded.

In the twelfth year of Duke You, King Li of Zhou fled to Zhi.

In Duke You's twenty-third year, he died. His son Duke Xi Xiao succeeded. In the sixth year of Duke Xi, King Xuan of Zhou took the throne. In Duke Xi's thirty-sixth year he died. His son Duke Wu Ling succeeded. Duke Wu died after fifteen years. His son Duke Yi Shuo succeeded. That year, King You of Zhou took the throne. Duke Yi died after three years. His brother Duke Ping Xie succeeded. In the seventh year of Duke Ping, King You was killed by the Quanrong, and Zhou moved east. Qin first came to be listed among the lords.

In Duke Ping's twenty-third year, he died. His son Duke Wen Yu succeeded.

In the first year of Duke Wen, he married a woman of Cai and she bore a son, Tuo. In Duke Wen's tenth year, he died. His eldest son Duke Huan Bao succeeded.

In the twenty-third year of Duke Huan, Duke Yin of Lu first took the throne. In the twenty-sixth year, Wei killed its lord Zhouyu. In the thirty-third year, Lu murdered its lord Duke Yin.

In the thirty-eighth year, on the jiaxu and jichou days of the first month, Duke Huan Bao died. Huan's brother Tuo — whose mother was the Cai woman — had Cai men kill Wufu and Duke Huan's crown prince Mian, and they established Tuo as ruler. This was Duke Li. Duke Huan had fallen ill and the disorder erupted while the population scattered, which is why the death notice was sent twice.

In the second year of Duke Li, his son Jing Zhong Wan was born. The Grand Astrologer of Zhou passed through Chen. Duke Li of Chen had him perform a divination using the Zhou Changes. The hexagram obtained was Guan changing to Pi: "This means 'Observing the glory of the state — it is advantageous to be received as a guest by the king.' Will this line come to possess a state in place of Chen? Not here, but in another state. Not in this man's lifetime, but in his descendants. If in another state, it must be one of the Jiang surname. The Jiang are descendants of the Grand Peak. Nothing can be great in two places at once. When Chen declines, this line will flourish."

Duke Li married a Cai woman, but she had affairs with men of Cai, and Duke Li frequently traveled to Cai for illicit liaisons. In the seventh year, the three younger brothers of Crown Prince Mian — whom Duke Li had killed — the eldest called Yue, the middle one Lin, and the youngest Chuqiu — together arranged for Cai men to lure Duke Li with a beautiful woman, and with the Cai men they killed Duke Li and established Yue. This was Duke Li. Duke Li was a son of Duke Huan. Duke Li died after five months on the throne. The middle brother Lin was established — this was Duke Zhuang. Duke Zhuang died after seven years. The youngest brother Chuqiu was established — this was Duke Xuan.

In the third year of Duke Xuan, King Wu of Chu died. Chu was first growing powerful. In the seventeenth year, King Hui of Zhou took a Chen woman as his queen.

In the twenty-first year, Duke Xuan's favored concubine bore a son named Kuan. Wishing to establish Kuan, he killed his crown prince Yukou. Yukou had been close to Duke Li's son Wan. Wan feared the trouble might extend to him and fled to Qi. Duke Huan of Qi wished to make Chen Wan a minister. Wan said: "I am a wandering exile. To have been spared the burden of carrying loads is already your lord's grace. I dare not accept a high position." Duke Huan made him Minister of Works. The Qi dignitary Yi Zhong wished to give his daughter to Chen Jing Zhong in marriage. A divination was performed, and the oracle said: "This is the phoenix in flight, its harmonious song resounding. The descendants of the Gui will be nurtured among the Jiang. In five generations they will flourish, equal to the chief ministers. After eight generations, none will be able to rival them."

In Duke Xuan's thirty-seventh year, Duke Huan of Qi attacked Cai. Cai collapsed. He then advanced south against Chu as far as Shaoling and returned, passing through Chen. The Chen minister Yuan Taotu resented the passage through Chen and tricked Qi into taking the eastern route. The eastern route was difficult. Duke Huan was furious and arrested Yuan Taotu. That year, Duke Xian of Jin killed his crown prince Shensheng.

In the forty-fifth year, Duke Xuan died. His son Kuan succeeded — this was Duke Mu. In the fifth year of Duke Mu, Duke Huan of Qi died. In the sixteenth year, Duke Wen of Jin defeated the Chu army at Chengpu. That year, Duke Mu died. His son Duke Gong Shuo succeeded. In the sixth year of Duke Gong, the Chu crown prince Shangchen murdered his father King Cheng and took his place — this was King Mu. In the eleventh year, Duke Mu of Qin died. In Duke Gong's eighteenth year, he died. His son Duke Ling Pingguo succeeded.

In the first year of Duke Ling, King Zhuang of Chu took the throne. In the sixth year, Chu attacked Chen. In the tenth year, Chen made peace with Chu.

In the fourteenth year, Duke Ling and his ministers Kong Ning and Yi Xingfu were all having affairs with Lady Xia. They wore her undergarments and joked about them at court. Xie Ye remonstrated: "When ruler and ministers indulge in such disorder, what example is set for the people?" Duke Ling told the two ministers, who requested permission to kill Xie Ye. The duke did not stop them, and they killed Xie Ye. In the fifteenth year, Duke Ling was drinking with the two at the Xia household. The duke jested to the two: "Zhengshu looks like you." The two replied: "He looks like you too." Zhengshu was enraged. When Duke Ling left after the drinking bout, Zhengshu lay in ambush with a crossbow at the stable gate and shot Duke Ling dead. Kong Ning and Yi Xingfu both fled to Chu. Duke Ling's crown prince Wu fled to Jin. Zhengshu proclaimed himself lord of Chen. Zhengshu was a former Chen minister. Lady Xia was the wife of Yushu and Zhengshu's mother.

In the winter of the first year of Duke Cheng, King Zhuang of Chu, citing Xia Zhengshu's murder of Duke Ling, led the lords in an attack on Chen. He told Chen: "Be at ease — I am only punishing Zhengshu." After executing Zhengshu, he turned Chen into a Chu county and annexed it. His ministers all congratulated him. Shen Shushi, returning from a mission to Qi, alone did not offer congratulations. King Zhuang asked why. He replied: "There is a common saying: 'A man leads his ox through another's field. The field's owner seizes the ox. The trespass was a wrong, but seizing the ox — is that not going too far?' Now the king raised armies from the lords on the grounds that Zhengshu was a regicidal traitor, and attacked in the name of righteousness. But then you took Chen for the profit of its land. How then will you command All-Under-Heaven in the future? That is why I do not congratulate you." King Zhuang said: "Excellent." He then welcomed Duke Ling's crown prince Wu from Jin, established him, and restored Chen's governance as before — this was Duke Cheng. When Confucius read the historical records and reached the passage where Chu restored Chen, he said: "How worthy was King Zhuang of Chu! He valued one word above a state of a thousand chariots."

In Duke Cheng's eighth year, King Zhuang of Chu died. In the twenty-ninth year, Chen broke its covenant with Chu. In the thirtieth year, King Gong of Chu attacked Chen. That year, Duke Cheng died. His son Duke Ai Ruo succeeded. Chu, observing Chen's mourning, withdrew its troops.

In the third year of Duke Ai, Chu besieged Chen but then released it. In the twenty-eighth year, the Chu prince Gongzi Wei murdered his king Jia'ao and took the throne as King Ling.

In the thirty-fourth year: earlier, Duke Ai had married women of Zheng. His senior lady bore the Mourned Crown Prince Shi; his junior bore Yan. He had two favored concubines: the senior bore Liu and the junior bore Sheng. Liu was favored by Duke Ai, who entrusted him to his brother, the Marshal Zhao. When Duke Ai fell ill, in the third month Zhao killed the Mourned Crown Prince and established Liu as heir. Duke Ai was furious and wished to execute Zhao. Zhao deployed troops and besieged the duke. Duke Ai hanged himself. Zhao established Liu as lord of Chen. In the fourth month, Chen sent envoys to Chu. King Ling of Chu, hearing of the turmoil in Chen, killed the Chen envoys and sent Prince Qiji to attack Chen with troops. Lord Liu of Chen fled to Zheng. In the ninth month, Chu besieged Chen. In the eleventh month, Chen was destroyed. Qiji was installed as Lord of Chen.

When Zhao killed the Mourned Crown Prince, the crown prince's son, named Wu, fled to Jin. Duke Ping of Jin asked the Grand Astrologer Zhao: "Has Chen perished for good?" The reply was: "Chen descends from the Zhuanxu clan. When the Chen clan gains power in Qi, Chen will ultimately perish. From Mu down to Gusou, there was no defiance of the mandate. Shun added brilliant virtue to this line. Down to Sui, they guarded it generation after generation. When Duke Hu received the Zhou grant of a surname to sacrifice to Emperor Yu, the line was secured. Moreover, descendants of supreme virtue must receive sacrifices for a hundred generations. The era of Yu has not yet ended. Perhaps the continuation lies in Qi?"

Five years after King Ling of Chu destroyed Chen, the Chu prince Qiji murdered King Ling and took the throne as King Ping. King Ping, newly enthroned, wished to reconcile the lords. He sought out Wu, the son of the former Mourned Crown Prince Shi, and established him as lord of Chen — this was Duke Hui. When Duke Hui was established, he backdated his reign to continue from the year of Duke Ai's death, leaving a gap of five empty years in the records.

In Duke Hui's tenth year, Chen suffered a fire. In the fifteenth year, King Liao of Wu sent Prince Guang to attack Chen, taking Hu and Shen before withdrawing. In the twenty-eighth year, King Helü of Wu and Wu Zixu defeated Chu and entered Ying. That year, Duke Hui died. His son Duke Huai Liu succeeded.

In the first year of Duke Huai, Wu had broken Chu and was occupying Ying. Wu summoned the lord of Chen. The lord wished to go, but his ministers said: "Wu is flushed with victory. Though the king of Chu is in exile, he has old ties with Chen. We must not betray them." Duke Huai pleaded illness to decline Wu's summons. In the fourth year, Wu again summoned Duke Huai. Duke Huai was afraid and went to Wu. Wu, angry at his earlier refusal, detained him. He died in Wu. Chen then established Duke Huai's son Yue — this was Duke Min.

In the sixth year of Duke Min, Confucius came to Chen. King Fuchai of Wu attacked Chen, taking three towns before withdrawing. In the thirteenth year, Wu attacked Chen again. Chen sent urgent appeals to Chu. King Zhao of Chu came to the rescue, encamping at Chengfu. The Wu army withdrew. That year, King Zhao of Chu died at Chengfu. At that time Confucius was in Chen. In the fifteenth year, Song destroyed Cao. In the sixteenth year, King Fuchai of Wu attacked Qi and defeated them at Ailing. He sent men to summon the lord of Chen. The lord was afraid and went to Wu. Chu attacked Chen. In the twenty-first year, Tian Chang of Qi murdered his lord Duke Jian. In the twenty-third year, Bai Gong Sheng of Chu killed the Chief Minister Zixi and Ziqi and attacked King Hui. Lord Ye defeated Bai Gong, who killed himself.

In the twenty-fourth year, King Hui of Chu, having recovered his state, marched north with his army, killed Duke Min of Chen, and destroyed Chen, annexing it. That year, Confucius died.

Duke Donglou of Qi was a distant descendant of Yu the Great, founder of the Xia dynasty. During the Yin dynasty, his line was sometimes enfeoffed and sometimes extinguished. When King Wu of Zhou conquered Yin Zhou, he sought out Yu's descendants, found Donglou, and enfeoffed him at Qi to maintain the Xia sacrifices.

Donglou fathered Duke Xilou, who fathered Duke Ti, who fathered Duke Mouqu. Duke Mouqu's time coincided with King Li of Zhou. Duke Mouqu fathered Duke Wu. Duke Wu died after forty-seven years on the throne. His son Duke Jing succeeded and died after twenty-three years. His son Duke Gong succeeded and died after eight years. His son Duke De succeeded and died after eighteen years. His brother Duke Huan Gurong succeeded and died after seventeen years. His son Duke Xiao Gai succeeded and died after seventeen years. His brother Duke Wen Yigu succeeded and died after fourteen years. His brother Duke Ping Yu succeeded and died after eighteen years. His son Duke Dao Cheng succeeded and died after twelve years. His son Duke Yin Qi succeeded. In the seventh month, Duke Yin's brother Sui murdered him and took the throne — this was Duke Xi. Duke Xi died after nineteen years. His son Duke Min Wei succeeded. In Duke Min's fifteenth year, King Hui of Chu destroyed Chen. In his sixteenth year, Duke Min's brother Elu murdered him and took the throne — this was Duke Ai. Duke Ai died after ten years. Duke Min's son Chi succeeded — this was Duke Chu. Duke Chu died after twelve years. His son Duke Jian Chun succeeded. After one year on the throne, in the forty-fourth year of King Hui of Chu, Qi was destroyed. Qi perished thirty-four years after Chen. Qi was tiny and insignificant — its affairs are not worth recording in detail.

Shun's descendants were enfeoffed at Chen by King Wu of Zhou and destroyed by King Hui of Chu — recorded in the Hereditary Houses. Yu's descendants were enfeoffed at Qi by King Wu and destroyed by King Hui of Chu — recorded in the Hereditary Houses. Xie's descendants became Yin — recorded in the Basic Annals. When Yin fell, Zhou enfeoffed their descendants at Song; King Min of Qi destroyed it — recorded in the Hereditary Houses. Houji's descendants became Zhou; King Zhao of Qin destroyed it — recorded in the Basic Annals. Gaoyao's descendants were enfeoffed at Ying and Liu; King Mu of Chu destroyed them — no genealogy survives. Boyi's descendants were re-enfeoffed at Qi by King Wu as the Grand Duke — the Chen clan destroyed them; recorded in the Hereditary Houses. Boyi's descendants were enfeoffed as Qin in King Ping's time; Xiang Yu destroyed it — recorded in the Basic Annals. The descendants of Chui, Yi, Kui, and Long — their enfeoffments are unknown. These eleven men were all famous ministers of merit and virtue from the era of Yao and Shun. Five of their lines produced emperors and kings; the rest became prominent lords. Teng, Xue, and Zou were enfeoffments from the Xia, Yin, and Zhou periods — small and not worth listing.

In King Wu's time, there were still over a thousand lords and chiefs. After Kings You and Li, the lords attacked and absorbed one another by force. States like Jiang, Huang, Hu, and Shen were too numerous to count, so they are not recorded in the tradition.

The Grand Historian says: Shun's virtue may be called supreme! He yielded the throne to Xia, yet his descendants received blood sacrifices through three dynasties. When Chu destroyed Chen, Tian Chang seized power in Qi and ultimately founded a state that endured without interruption for a hundred generations. His descendants multiplied endlessly, never lacking those who held territory. As for Yu — his line in the Zhou era was Qi, a state so tiny it barely merits counting. King Hui of Chu destroyed Qi, but afterward King Goujian of Yue rose.

The sacrifices of supreme virtue must extend a hundred generations. The legacies of Shun and Yu were carried on by Chen and Qi. Gui Man received enfeoffment; Donglou continued the line. Elu usurped the throne; Lady Xia indulged in licentiousness. Both states declined — now rising, now falling. The first was merged, the second captured — both perished under King Hui of Chu. Goujian rose suddenly; Tian He swallowed Qi whole. The unbroken chain of blood sacrifice — is it not through their distant descendants?